Improvement in shaft-couplings



UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

RODNEY s. CATHOART, on CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT m SHAFT-COUPLINGS.

Spetifieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,879, dated October21, 1873; application filed August 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern;

Beit known that I, RODNEY S. OA'rIIcARr, of Cincinnati, the county ofHamilton and in the State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shaft-Couplings; and do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of myfdevice, asapplied to the abutting ends of two pieces of shafting. Fig. 2 is a likeview of the divided clamping-sleeve, showing the sections separated.Fig. 3 is a cross-section of said parts upon a central line. Fig. 4 is acentral longitudinal section of the complete coupling, and Fig. 5 isaperspective view of one of the locking-collars. I

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The object of my invention is to enable pieces of shafting to be easilyand securely connected, and as readily disconnected, when desired, towhich end, it consists, principally,

in the peculiar construction of the sections of the clamping-sleeve, andtheir combination with each other, and with the contiguous ends of theshafts, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. Itconsists,f1nally, in the coupling as a whole, when its several parts areconstructed as described, and combined with each other and with theshaft ends in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A and A represent two semi-cylindrical piecesof metal which have corresponding dimensions and are ably, a radialdiameter equal to the thickness of one wall of said sleeve, and abreadth of about one-half inch. Within the plane faces of one portionof. the collar B are provided two conical recesses, I), while upon theopposite portions of the other section of said collar are two spurs, b,that correspond to and fit into said recesses and hold the sections ofthe sleeve in relative position. Fitting over each end of the sleeve Ais a collar, 0, which interiorly has the same taper as is given to theexterior of said sleeve, and has such dimensions that, when pressedinward until its inner edge nearly reaches the longitudinal center ofthe latter, said collar shall firmly press together the sections formingthe same. Two or more bolts, D, passing horizontally through the collarsO, and provided upon their ends. with nuts (I, enable said collars to bedrawn toward each other, so as to compress the divided sleeve A.Suitable half-round grooves b, formed within the collar B, enable saidbolts to be placed in position, and, at the same time, insure therelative circumferential positions of said parts. The shafts E are eachprovided, near their ends, with a round opening, 6, which receives acorrespondingly-shaped stud, a, that projects radially inward from theinner side of one of the sections, the relative positions of said studsand openings being such as to cause the end of each shaft to be held atthe longitudinal center of said sleeve.

The device is now complete, and is used as follows: Theends of theshafts are brought together and turned until their openings 0 are in aline so as to receive the studs 12 of the sleeve; said sleeve is thenplaced in position, and the collars, which have previously been slippedover the shafts, pressed over said sleeve and secured by thebinding-bolts, the whole operation occupying but a few minutes of time,and being easily accomplished.

In construction the coupling is so simple, and its parts are so few, as.to render its cost comparatively small, while for strength anddurability the device will compare favorably with any in use.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, whatI claim as new is- 1. The sections A and A, provided with studs a, thecollar B, the recesses b, and the spurs b, in combination with eachother and -with the shaft ends E, provided with the openings 0,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The sleeve A, constructed in interlocking sections, as shown, andprovided with the studs a, the collars G and O, fitted upon or over saidsleeve, and the bolts D passing through said collars, combined with eachother, and with the shafts E provided with the opening's c,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this8th day of August, 1823.

RODNEY S. CATHCART. Witnesses GEO. E. GAULT, W. E. WATSON.

